Man accused of burglary, using stolen credit cards

Published: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 5:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 5:18 p.m.

A Gainesville man with a history of burglary convictions was arrested on a burglary charge Friday after a Gainesville police officer recognized his hat from a surveillance photo, GPD spokesman officer Ben Tobias reported on Saturday.

Thomas J. Cush, 45, was charged with car burglary and fraudulent use of credit cards, according to arrest information.

Tobias reported that officer Shawn Hardman on March 17 took a report of a car burglary in which a woman's purse was stolen. Shortly after the burglary, someone tried to use stolen credit cards at several businesses in the vicinity of Southwest 16th Avenue and 13th Street, including a CVS store. CVS surveillance recorded a picture of the culprit.

On Friday, Hardman was off-duty when she saw a man — identified as Cush — wearing the same hat as the culprit crossing the street in front of her car, Tobias said. Hardman covertly followed Cush to his house while contacting other officers.

The other officers arrived and arrested Cush, Tobias reported. Under police questioning, Cush denied having committed the burglary but admitted to being present when the credit cards from the burglary were used.

<p>A Gainesville man with a history of burglary convictions was arrested on a burglary charge Friday after a Gainesville police officer recognized his hat from a surveillance photo, GPD spokesman officer Ben Tobias reported on Saturday.</p><p>Thomas J. Cush, 45, was charged with car burglary and fraudulent use of credit cards, according to arrest information.</p><p>Tobias reported that officer Shawn Hardman on March 17 took a report of a car burglary in which a woman's purse was stolen. Shortly after the burglary, someone tried to use stolen credit cards at several businesses in the vicinity of Southwest 16th Avenue and 13th Street, including a CVS store. CVS surveillance recorded a picture of the culprit.</p><p>On Friday, Hardman was off-duty when she saw a man — identified as Cush — wearing the same hat as the culprit crossing the street in front of her car, Tobias said. Hardman covertly followed Cush to his house while contacting other officers.</p><p>The other officers arrived and arrested Cush, Tobias reported. Under police questioning, Cush denied having committed the burglary but admitted to being present when the credit cards from the burglary were used.</p><p>Tobias said Cush has a history of burglary convictions.</p>